Mr. C. Lee Turner is absolutelypositively innocent of the charge ofengaging in professional misconduct by assaulting or otherwise abusing a student.Indeed, the student who was allegedly abused has categorically denied that Mr. Turner assaulted or abused him, and has called for Mr. Turner’s immediate reinstatement. Furthermore, the student denied the allegationsbefore classes startedor shortly thereafterand before Mr. Turner was ever suspended, calling into question the real motive for this malicious persecution of Mr. Turner.Thetrue motive for this attempt to assassinate Mr. Turner’s good characterand tocripple PVAMU’s outstanding Theater Arts program is: “Diversity.”Wright has been singing the “diversity” song ever since his arrivalover two years ago.Many have asked the question: “What does diversity have to do with Mr. Turner’s suspension”? The answer of course is: everything. Out with the old . . . in with the new.
“Diversity,”like its mother, “integration,” requiresextermination ofa blackinstitution’s historicalidentity and culturein order to make way for “diversity.” For example,after public school “integration,” M.C. Williams High School in Houston,HebertHigh School and Charlton Pollard High School in Beaumont, Lincoln High in Port Arthur, E.J. Campbell High in Nacogdoches, etc.,are but a fadingmemory, along with their school colors and mascots in most instances. And, the black high schools in H.I.S.D. have been robbed of their talented administrators, faculty and students and left to die a slow death. If permitted to occur, “diversity”will robPVAMU of its historical identity and culturejust like “integration” robbedthe black public schools of theirs.
Indeed, erasing PVAMU’s black identity and culture began some time ago. The great majority of its historical buildings (Fuller Hall, Drew Hall, etc.), associated withPVAMU’s black identity and culture, have been demolished.
The intimate dormitory environment has been replaced by impersonal apartments. As well,PVAMU’s once more than 90 percent black faculty has been dramatically reduced to 58 percent,at last report, destroying the sense of family and community thatonce existed. A whopping 20 percent tuition increase and increased admission standards have accomplished their purpose of dramatically reducing African-American enrollment this semester. For the first time in memory, campus housing was still available after classes began.
Furthermore,attacks onPVAMU’s most successful professors and programs have gone on unabated. Professor Dennis Judd’s exemplary physics program was irreparably crippled when the previous administration alleged financial improprieties in the program andcaused Professor Judd’sresearch grantto becanceled. Cancellation of hisgrantcaused Professor Judd’sfrustrated physics studentsto transfer to other schools.The physicsprogram has never recovered and Professor Judd has retired.
Then came the assault on Dr. George Brown’s outstanding biology program. The administration started acompeting biology program at PVAMU, called a Medical Academy.To add insult to injury, Dr. Brown was required tolet some of the students that he had recruited go to the new biology program.Subsequently, Dr. Brown either resigned or was removed as head of the biology program.
Now it is Mr. Turner and his extraordinary Theater Arts program. Character assassination and suspensionis the weapon of choice this time. The plan is to keep Mr. Turner out of his classroom long enough to frustratehis best and brightest Theater Arts students into transferring to other schools. The callousness ofthis improper suspension of Turneris magnified by the fact that someone was hired (who is still doingsocial workin Houston in violation of PVAMU’s policy against having two jobs)to teach Turner’s classes,thereby shortchanging Theater Arts studentson their education.
Wewarnedof plans for”denegrofication” of PVAMU. Well,those plans are now in full implementation.
So, there has indeed been professional misconduct and student abuse at PVAMU. However, the professional misconduct and student abuse has not been by Mr. Turner.
Lonnie B. Davis
Attorney for C. Lee Turner